Device and method for exercising a body part of a person

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a device for exercising a body part of a person, comprising a substantially annular member, means for gripping the member, the gripping means being arranged substantially in the centre of the annulus, a weight and means for guiding the weight along the member for generating a centrifugal force caused by rotation of the weight along the annular member. The present invention also relates to a method of exercising a body part of a person.

The present invention relates to an exercise device for musculartraining of a body part of a person. The present invention also relatesto a method in which the exercise device is used.

Numerous exercising devices are on the market today, ranging from verysimple devices, for instance dumb-bells, bar-bells, et cetera, to verycomplicated devices wherein use is made of computer-controlled hydraulicor pneumatic cylinders or springs in order to provide the requiredresistance. Many of the available exercising devices are rather heavyand/or bulky, which reduces the portability of the device. In fact,these devices are mostly used as a stationary training apparatus.

Some of the existing exercising devices are relatively compact andlight-weight. However, these exercising devices are often of limiteduse. For example, when the exercise device is a dumb-bell, the dumb-bellwill only exercise a relatively limited group of muscles. A furtherdrawback of the existing exercising devices is that they arecomparatively heavy. For instance, in case of using a dumb-bell fortraining the arms or legs of a subject, the weight of the dumb-bell isat least several kilograms. This reduces the portability of theexercising device considerably.

Because of the comparatively heavy weight of the dumb-bells they maycause injuries to the muscles. For, example, when a dumb-bell is usedfor training the hand of a person, the hand is twisted in order toexercise different muscles in the hand. Due to the inertial load of thedumb bell and the resulting torque on the hand, injuries can easilyoccur.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide arelatively compact and light-weight exercising device which obviates theabove mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, the exercising device beingable to provide muscular training of multiple muscle groups duringwork-out sessions.

According to a first aspect of the present invention a device forexercising a body part of a person is provided, the device comprising:

-   -   a substantially annular member;    -   means for gripping the member, the gripping means being arranged        substantially in the centre of the annulus;    -   a weight;    -   means for guiding the weight along the member for generating a        centrifugal force caused by rotation of the weight along the        annular member. The centrifugal force generated by the rotation        of the weight is transmitted to the body part of the person.

The resulting force exerted on the body part is of constant magnitudewhen the rotation velocity is kept constant, but has a continuouslychanging direction. This ensures that relatively large muscle groups canbe trained and that the trained muscle group will be kept constantlyunder strain.

The device is highly portable and can be used as a muscle strengtheningand toning device as well as an aerobic training enhancement tool. Theorbital oscillation of the weight works multiple muscle groups duringworkout sessions and provides many combinations of possible exercises.

In a preferred embodiment the guiding means comprise a passage throughthe annular member, the weight rotatable along said passage. In thisembodiment the weight is displaced along the interior of the annularmember, which implies that the weight is kept out of reach of any bodyparts that could be injured by the movement of the weight. The presentembodiment therefore provides a very safe exercising device.

In a preferred embodiment the annular member is a hollow member and theweight comprises one or more balls, the balls being dimensioned so as tobe freely movable inside the hollow member. By using one or more ball,preferably made of steel or similar material, the rotating movement canbe accomplished easily. When the annular member additionally madedetachable, i.e. when the member can be opened and closed by the person,then the weight may be adjusted by replacing the ball with one or moreheavier or lighter balls.

In a preferred embodiment the annular member is a hollow member and theweight comprises a liquid, the liquid being rotatable inside thereservoir formed by the hollow member. The interior of the hollow membercan be filled with liquid, for example waiter, and/or fine particles ofa solid, for example sand. The liquid/solid can be rotated along theinterior of the annular member and consequently induce the centrifugalforces on which the exercise is based.

In a preferred embodiment the guiding means comprise a bracket to whichthe weight is mounted, the bracket being provided with a slide forsliding the weight in a track provided in the periphery of the annularmember.

In another preferred embodiment the weight comprises a second annularmember of a larger diameter than the first annular member, wherein theguiding means comprises a plurality of bearings arranged between thefirst and second annular members.

In a preferred embodiment the gripping means comprise a transversehandle attached to the annular member for gripping by the person. Inthis embodiment a handle is provided which can be gripped by the personfor linking the annular member to the relevant body part of the person.This makes the device suitable for training predominantly the musclegroups at or in the vicinity of the wrist. The handle may be detachablymounted to the annular member. In a state wherein the handle isdetached, other embodiments of the gripping means may be employed. Forexample, the gripping means may comprise a sleeve for gripping said bodypart of the person. In this way muscle groups of other body parts, e.g.an arm or leg of the person, can be trained.

In another preferred embodiment the gripping means comprise an elasticfabric provided with a central opening into which the body part can beinserted for gripping the body part.

The combined weight of the device ranges from 0.2 kg to 3 kg, whichmakes it easy to carry. Preferably the combined weight of the deviceeven ranges from 0.3 kg to 0.9 kg.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the object isachieved in a method of exercising a body part of a person with theabove mentioned device, a method comprising the steps of:

-   -   arranging the body part to be exercised in the centre of the        annular member;    -   attaching the body part to the annular member;    -   moving the body part causing the weight to rotate, along the        annular member for exerting a centrifugal exercising force on at        least said body part.

Further advantages, features and details of the, present invention willbe elucidated on the bases of the following description of somepreferred embodiments thereof. Reference is made in the description tothe figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a partly cut-away view in perspective of a first preferredembodiment of the exercising device;

FIG. 2 shows a partly cut-away view in perspective of a second preferredembodiment of the exercising device; and

FIG. 3 shows a partly cut-away view in perspective of a third preferredembodiment of the exercising device.

The exercising device 1 of FIG. 1 comprises an annular member 2 which isformed of an upper plastic part 4 and a lower plastic part 3, which areglued together. The upper and lower parts 3,4 define a passage 5 formedinside the annular member 2. The passage 5 has a smooth inner surface,on which a ball 6 of a predetermined weight, for example ranging from0.1 kg-2,5 kg, can freely rotate (cf. P₁). In the centre of the annularmember 20 a handle 7 is provided, the handle being attached to theannular member 2 as to define two openings in which the hand of theperson can be inserted.

In use, a person grips the handle 7 and moves the handle and the annularmember 2 attached to it in such a way, that the ball 6 is starting toroll. Eventually the ball 6 end up rotating along the interior 5 of theannular member 2. The rotation of the ball 6 causes a centrifugal forceto be exerted on the handle and the hand of the person gripping thehandle 7.

As the ball rotates along the interior of the member 2, a centrifugalforce caused by the rotation movement of the ball will have a constantlychanging direction and will, therefore exert a force of constantlychanging direction on the hand or arm of the person. This impliesamongst others that the exercising device will train many muscle groupssimultaneously. For example, when the device is gripped by the hand, atthe same time the muscle groups at the front, at the back and at bothsides of the wrist as well as several muscle groups of the arm aretrained.

If the velocity of the ball 6 is sufficiently high, the exercisingdevice 1 will function as a gyroscope. Due to the rotation of the weightthe device will then resist against any change of orientation of thehandle. This gyroscopic effect gives rise to numerous additionalexercises. Furthermore muscles throughout the whole body must be used tostabilize the person exercising.

In the above exercises are discussed wherein the weight is rotated atconsiderable speed along the annular member. Other exercises are alsofeasible. For instance, the device may be oriented parallel the floor.The subject then slowly tilts the device in order to displace the weightunder the influence of gravity to a certain position. It is alsopossible to force the weight in a slow, oscillating movement of thedevice along the annular member 2.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In thisembodiment the handle 7 is removed and replaced by an elastic fabric 8.The fabric is provided with an opening O through which the hand oranother body part of the person can be inserted. The opening O isslightly smaller than the space occupied by the body part. For thisreason and because of the elastic nature of the fabric, the fabric willgrip the body part, for example the wrist, the elbow, the knee, etcetera and the exercising device is then be ready for use.

Furthermore, in this embodiment the passage 5 defined by the upper part4 and lower part 3 of the annular member 2 is filled with a liquid, forexample water, or solid material, for example sand. FIG. 2 shows apartly cut-way perspective, view of the second embodiment. The liquid 9is shown schematically in the partly cut-away portion of the member 2.The liquid or solid fulfils a similar function as the ball, i.e. itinduces the centrifugal forces.

FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the present invention. In thisinvention the elastic fabric 8 is replaced by a sleeve 14, preferablyalso of elastic material. The sleeve has the same gripping function asthe elastic fabric as shown in FIG. 2. In use, the body part to beexercised is inserted through the sleeve 14. In order to secure thesleeve 14 to the body part, two straps 15 are provided, the straps beingprovided with velcro or other suitable fastening means.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 an element 11 is provided, which canbe rotated along the circumferential edge 17 of the annular member 2. Inthe circumferential edge 17 of the member 2 a track 10 is provided. Thetrack 10 comprises a groove which in cross-section has a broadeningshape. The element 11 on its part is provided with a rod 12, at theouter end of which a slide 13 is attached. The slide 13 is shaped incorrespondence with the shape of the groove 10. The shape of thecross-section of the slide 13 corresponds to the shape cross-section ofthe groove 10. The shown construction enables the element 11 to be slid(cf. P₂) along the annular member 2.

In a further preferred embodiment (not shown in the drawings) a secondannular member of a larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of theannular member 2 is provided. Between the outer annular member and theinner annular member 2 bearings are arranged. In this way the outerannular member can rotate around the first annular member, therebycreating the centrifugal forces that are required for the musculartraining.

The above embodiment and the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 are preferablyprovided with a housing (not shown) connected to the annular member 2for encasing the passage that is needed for the rotating outer annularmember and element 11 respectively. In this way the annular member andthe element 11 are prevented from being exposed to the outside, therebyreducing the risks of injuries caused by any rotating parts.

The present invention is not limited to the above described preferredembodiments thereof; the rights sought are defined by the followingclaims, within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged.

1-16. (canceled)
 17. A device for exercising a body part of a person,comprising: a) a substantially annular member; b) means for gripping themember, the gripping means being arranged substantially in the centre ofthe annulus; c) a weight; and d) means for guiding the weight along themember for generating a centrifugal force caused by rotation of theweight along the annular member.
 18. The device according to claim 17,wherein the guiding means comprise a passage through the annular member,the weight rotatable along said passage.
 19. The device according toclaim 18, wherein the annular member is a hollow member and the weightcomprises one or more balls, the balls being dimensioned so as to befreely movable inside the hollow member.
 20. The device according toclaim 18, wherein the annular member is a hollow member and the weightcomprises a liquid, the liquid being rotatable inside the reservoirformed by the hollow member.
 21. The device according to claim 17,wherein the guiding means comprise a bracket to which the weight ismounted, the bracket being provided with a slide for sliding the weightin a track provided in the periphery of the annular member.
 22. Thedevice according to claim 17, wherein the weight comprises a secondannular member of a larger diameter than the first annular member andwherein the guiding means comprise a plurality of bearings arrangedbetween the first and second annular members.
 23. The device accordingto claim 17, wherein the annular member is hand-held.
 24. The deviceaccording to claim 17, wherein the gripping means comprise a transversehandle attached to the annular member for gripping by the person. 25.The device according to claim 24, wherein the handle is detachablyattached to the annular member.
 26. The device according to claim 17,wherein the gripping means comprise a sleeve for gripping said body partof the person.
 27. The device according to claim 26, wherein the sleeveis provided with straps for attaching the sleeve to said body part. 28.The device according to claim 17, wherein the gripping means comprise anelastic fabric provided with a central opening into which the body partcan be inserted for gripping the body part.
 29. The device according toclaim 17, wherein the annular member is manufactured of a plurality ofinjection-molded material.
 30. The device according to claim 17, whereinthe annular member is manufactured of plastic.
 31. The device accordingto claim 17, wherein the total weight of the device ranges from 0.2 kgto 3 kg, preferably from 0.3 kg to 0.9 kg.
 32. A method of exercising abody part of a person with the device of claim 17, the method comprisingthe steps of: a) arranging the body part to be exercised in the centreof the annular member; b) attaching the body part to the annular member;and c) moving the body part causing the weight to rotate along theannular member for exerting a centrifugal exercising force on at leastsaid body part.